Red Alert for Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri, Orange for Darjeeling district in North Bengal

An Orange Alert (Be Prepared) has been issued for the Darjeeling district in North Bengal. North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur in North Bengal are also likely to receive Heavy Rainfall (7-11 cm) at one or two places, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and 30-40 kmph gusty winds, carrying a high risk of flash floods and damage to infrastructure.

Malda in North Bengal, along with Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and the two Dinajpurs, is also under a continued risk of lightning strikes and minor disruption due to thunderstorms and gusty winds over the next two days.

Meanwhile, South Bengal is also bracing for thunderstorms with associated heavy rain at one or two places, which could lead to significant disruption of daily life and potential for localised power outages.

A Yellow Alert (Be Aware) has been issued from October 5 to October 8 for a large swath of South Bengal, including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Paragans, East and West Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, East and West Bardhaman, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Nadia. These districts are expected to see thunderstorms with gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph, and a high probability of lightning.

North Bengal continues to face a more severe outlook. The situation is forecast to intensify with the potential for extremely heavy rain (more than 20 cm) at one or two places in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. Heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) is also likely in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and North Dinajpur. This heavy rainfall carries significant risks, including landslides in the hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, severe waterlogging/inundation, and a concerning rise in water levels in major rivers such as Teesta, Torsa, Raidak, and Jaldhaka.

The weather department has advised residents in hilly areas to avoid landslide-prone zones. For all citizens, the possible impacts include a high probability of lightning strikes over open fields, significant travel disruption due to waterlogging, and a risk of collapse for kutcha houses and temporary structures.

“Damage to standing crops is a major concern. Residents must take shelter during intense spells, and precautionary measures should be taken to protect life and property. This includes moving animals and harvestable produce to safer locations, disconnecting electrical appliances,” the weather office said.

“The low-pressure area over north Bihar & neighbourhood had become less marked. However, the associated cyclonic circulation lay over northeast Bihar & neighbourhood and extended up to 4.5 km above mean sea level.

“Light to moderate rain thundershowers with heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at most places over North Bengal, with extremely heavy rainfall at a few places over Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Darjeeling districts of North Bengal. Very light to moderate rainfall occurred at most places with heavy rainfall at one or two places over the Kolkata district of South Bengal,” reads the latest bulletin by the weather office

IMD forecast

• October 6: Light to moderate rain or thundershower very likely to occur at many places over all the districts, with heavy rain (07-11 cm) likely to occur at one or two places over Alipurduar district of North Bengal. Thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 kmph) and lightning are very likely to occur at one or two places over all the districts of North Bengal.
• October 7: Light to moderate rain or thundershower likely to occur at a few places over all the districts of North Bengal, with thunderstorm with gusty wind (30-40 kmph) and lightning very likely to occur at one or two places over Malda and South Dinajpur districts of North Bengal.
• October 8: Light to moderate rain or thundershower likely to occur at a few places over all the districts of North Bengal.
• October 9-October 11: Light rain or thundershower likely to occur at one or two places over all the districts of North Bengal.

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